Andrew Lloyd Webber opens up about alcoholism and recovery

Andrew Lloyd Webber has spoken publicly about his struggle with alcoholism, revealing that he is now a recovering alcoholic and has been sober for more than a year after seeking help.

In a candid new interview, the legendary composer said he made the decision 16 months ago to get support, describing it as the best thing that has happened to him. The revelation marks a significant and deeply personal moment for one of musical theatre’s most influential figures, whose body of work includes Cats, Evita, The Phantom of the Opera and Jesus Christ Superstar.

Webber had previously announced he had stopped drinking in 2015 while producing School of Rock on Broadway, even selling off his renowned wine collection. At the time, he projected confidence in his ability to quit. But he has now admitted that the reality was far more complicated, saying he had tried to stay sober through willpower alone and eventually relapsed in secret.

He described that period as one of “white-knuckling,” a phrase often used to describe forcing abstinence without proper support. According to Webber, concerns about his creativity fed into the relapse, as he became anxious that giving up alcohol might somehow damage his ability to write. He said he began drinking privately, despite having publicly stated that he was no longer drinking.

That secrecy, however, did not shield his family from the consequences. Webber acknowledged that those around him were well aware of his relapse and said the situation had become desperate around 18 months ago. He revealed that his wife, Madeleine Gurdon, felt she could no longer continue under the strain of his addiction.

The composer said he subsequently went to rehab and now attends daily Alcoholics Anonymous meetings across Europe and the United States. He also confirmed that he is auctioning off the last of his wine, with the sale expected to raise significant funds for the Music in Secondary Schools Trust, which supports children’s access to music and is partly funded through his foundation.

Webber also reflected on the role alcohol played in his professional life, admitting that drinking had become intertwined with the process of writing and working in theatre. He said that while alcohol could seem to offer a sense of creative freedom in the moment, it ultimately led him into a worsening spiral.

Now sober, Webber says he is in a markedly different place, both personally and creatively. He has continued to work at a prolific pace, with Cats: The Jellicle Ball receiving strong acclaim and two new musicals currently in development, one inspired by the 1911 theft of the Mona Lisa and another based on the 2006 film The Illusionist. At the same time, recent productions of Sunset Boulevard and Evita have continued to keep his work firmly in the spotlight.

Reflecting on his current outlook, Webber pointed to the success of the performers leading his recent productions and the gratitude he now feels in sobriety. After decades as one of theatre’s defining creative forces, his latest revelation offers a striking portrait of vulnerability, recovery and renewal behind the curtain.

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